Very Expensive Rice

I wanted to start this post with a pretty picture. I think this is what rice would look like if it grew in Maryland in the wintertime.

I just got back from my third trip to the store today, because I’m not at all organized. I bought some rice at Giant.

This small packet of rice was $5.99. It’s because it says “Thai Jasmine Rice” in the front. I was curious to see how such expensive rice tasted so I’m going to make it tonight along with the curry chicken I’m serving the husband. From someone who eats rice almost every day of her life and twice on Sunday, buying this rice all the time may make us really poor…but if it’s good…

I'm Worried

She’s under the weather. The girl, not the horse. Tomorrow will be another equestrian meet and I’m worried she will not be 100% for it. I’m not worried she won’t perform well, I’m just worried that she’ll fall off. It takes so much concentration to do what she does, if her focus is off even just a little bit, the danger is that she’ll get hurt. And I don’t want that.

I took the girl to the farm this morning and instead of staying for her equestrian lesson, she called to have me come and get her right after her first ride. That never happens. She’s got to be feeling rotten. I asked her to not go in this morning and just go in the afternoon for the equestrian lesson but she wouldn’t hear of it. Well, mother knows best.

She’s been sniffling and barely able to talk since the “Big Snow” last Tuesday. Poppop would tell me that the cold will not create a cold but what does he know, he’s just a pharmacist. I could really be mean and prohibit her from going tomorrow…but I probably won’t. It’s just not me.

So I’ll just pray. That’s what I do.

If I Were Cooking For The Super Bowl

If I were cooking for the Super Bowl, I would make this.

Bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos. These are incredibly yummy.

My fingers stung for two days after cutting these. I cut up the jalapenos, take out the seeds and stuff it with cream cheese. Then I wrap the bacon around it and bake it in the over on 350 for about 10 minutes. Yum. The recipe is on The Pioneer Woman’s site.

I would cut up some tomatoes and jalapenos, toss them in olive oil, garlic and parmesan cheese. I would then put the whole thing on baquettes topped with Laughing Cow Cheese.

I would also open up a jar of my mother’s salsa.

But I’m not cooking for the Super Bowl.

Instead, I’m going to spend the day at a horse farm, in the cold, watching another equestrian meet. I am however, going to crash someone else’s party afterward and I’m bringing this…

Kristyn’s buffalo wing dip. She gave me this recipe and of course I lost it. I did however, remember the ingredients, not how much to put in. Detail, details.

at least I think I remember…

Blue Cheese Dressings,
Franks Red Hot Buffalo wing sauce,
Canned chicken,
Blue Cheese,
Cream Cheese

If these aren’t the ingredients, then I don’t remember what they are. However I’ve made this dip several times with the ingredients above and everyone loved it. I’ve actually given the recipe away several times myself…

Okay, here’s the chicken. I had a little bit of soul searching to do with this ingredient. I think “Why not fresh chicken? Wouldn’t that be better?” Well perhaps, but I did it and now I don’t do it any other way.

I feel like I’m being watched.

You basically throw everything together and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes – or less – or until it starts to bubble. Every oven is different.

For those of you who found this recipe really frustrating because there’s no quantity or because I really didn’t tell you how to make it, I encourage you to just try it. Cooks experiment all the time. I can’t follow the quantity for a recipe to the tee because it can frustrate me and takes away some of my creativity.

I can never follow directions anyway, ask any of my bosses or my parents.

Ice Ice Baby

The dog and I do our normal early morning walk today. The snow is still on the ground outside.

But it’s covered with a sheet of ice.

It goes crunch, crunch as the dog and I walk on it.

These ice particles on the driveway look like stones on the beach to me…

I didn’t know what the rest of the day would bring.

I just know right now…I LOVE my camera!

I think next week will be a “how to” week. It’s so much fun for me, you gotta love it too!

Good-bye World Gym

Yesterday, I taught my last class at this facility.

I’ve taught here for the last three years or more…next week, we are moving to a new facility…

I’m bittersweet about the whole thing. Hopefully we will keep our intimate feel. No big bruising body builders, just normal people who are trying to stay as healthy as they can, like me. I know the general exercise room will be bigger and better and perhaps the HVAC system will work, that would be nice.

Puna are you taking pictures again?

Good-bye, it was fun while it lasted…

The Day I Almost Missed

I’m hooked on dolphins.

Had I spent the day on my own on a deserted island, I would have missed one of the most memorable days of my life.

Along for the ride with the schools of fish we plucked from the ocean were pods of dolphins.

I think they were Atlantic Bottle Nosed-Dolphins.

These may be porpoises…

But whatever they are, they were beautiful…

Most of the time, I photographed the ocean, but sometimes they will swim into my field of view. And I was thrilled.

I will never forget the day that I almost missed.

When The Husband Stays Home

I took this image early (not that early) this morning on my walk with the dog. It was literally a sheet of ice outside.

The kids didn’t have school. I’m was sure dey was happy since I didn’t see them a’for I left ‘fo work, they turned off their alarms and had no problem going back to bed. Little did they know…their dad was going to stay home with them…

Apparently, while I was holed up at work all day, their dad was having them vacuum the floor, sort the laundry and clean out their closets. Perhaps school would be better? In any case, apparently they were done working at noon and had the day to themselves after that. They were then able to go sledding, which I missed so no pictures. I was at work all day.

He is definitely the disciplinarian, I’m the push over. The life lessons though, are important. After all, what kind of parents would we be if we were to send them off on their own without knowing how to do laundry?

And another benefit. My parents got the husband a smoker for Christmas and he has been a smokin’ fiend all week. Literally smoking every food he could get his hands on.

Tonight, he cooked this dish. It’s a sausage, vegetable, and cheese thing. I believe the French would call it la cassoulet a Provencal, without the beans – and the mutton – and the bread crumbs – and the whole French Riviera but it’s still somewhat the same.

It was so delicious. He’s a better housewife than I am. Hands down. Thanks honey.

My Last Snow Post For The Day

It doens’t happen that often here. Snow that is.

We are all so excited.

The girl brought Christine-girl home again to work on their never-ending history fair project. They were working so hard and I know why…

They wanted to go outside and play in the snow.

I was having a great time watching them and taking pictures – from inside the house. The girl takes out her phone and starts dialing. Who could she possibly be calling? My phone started ringing. They wanted to know if they could go across the street to the big hill. I guess it was too much to come inside and ask.

I went with them and when we got there, we found boys. I saw Neighbor Vinny and Neighbor Sam – who actually said hello. But the rest of the hoodlums? I don’t know who they are…When they saw us coming, they left.

I understand, girls can be scary.

That’s ok, we had the hill to ourselves!

We don’t need no stinking boys to have fun.

Back inside for even more to eat. The cat really likes to live dangerously. I like Christine-girl, she puts fish sauce in her food, just like we do.

This project is due next week. It’s coming along and I really am proud of the girls. They work hard and play hard. I didn’t even proofread their captions. I actually contributed less this year than any other year. All I had to do was make cookies.

It’s totally exhausting.

This picture of the boat with snow on it is for BFF Bruce. The husband asked me to put it on.

The weather looks like it will be icy tomorrow. We’ll see if there’s school…

Happy B-Day, Neighbor Sue

or should I say Martha?

It’s Snowing Today, On Your B-Day Bro

The girl wore her pajamas inside out last night.

It worked, but not before she had to go to school. I went to yoga at 7 am this morning and there was no snow.

I came out of class at 8 am and it was all white. There’s the husband in his shorts and the cat was delicately trying to decide whether it’s too cold to run away or not.

There’s my Ashley-girl, running to me with her coat wide open.

The neighborhood kids were sliding down the hill and getting all wet before the bus finally showed up. I let them. After all, they were having fun and I wasn’t their mother.

Here’s a cute little snow bunny. She was really warm…

Still snowing as I write. I drove down the street to get to work and my brakes were protesting. I got scared and turned around and came back home.

I’m working from home now, sort of. The kids will be coming home three hours early today. I hear them now…

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